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Touching hearts

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

Olive Hill and Carter County suffered a tremendous loss recently, with the untimely death of Ben Jordan. It’s tragic when anyone passes. Doubly so when they are so young. It’s a hard topic to broach. How do you balance respect for the grieving family with the community’s desire to know more? 

In our case, we decided to run the obituary submitted by the family and to run the call from the Chamber of Commerce for tributes on our sports page. Otherwise, we left it alone. 

I honestly didn’t really know Ben or his sports career. Though I’ve been covering Carter County for nearly four years – since 2017 – it’s only over the past seven months that I’ve been privileged to cover local sports. Since we’ve started the Carter County Times we’ve made an effort to cover local sports as much as possible. It’s been a challenge not only because of our small staff, but because of the weird sports schedule in the year of the COVID pandemic. 

However, you don’t have to be familiar with sports to see the oversized impact “Big Ben” had on the community he called home. 

All you’ve had to do in the weeks following his passing is drive around Olive Hill and look at the tributes to the beloved student athlete. It’s there in the ribbons on various storefronts all over town. In the big blue #3 painted on the window of Tackett’s Furniture. On the tributes of the electronic marquees of First Baptist Church and McDonald’s. 

More importantly, it’s in the stories shared by those who did know Ben. 

Stories from other news outlets noted his consummate sense of good sportsmanship. How, regardless of whether his team won or lost, he was the first to congratulate the other team on a game well played. And not just the perfunctory good game. Other coaches noted that his comments and critiques were sincere and heartfelt. 

On the Wednesday after the news came out, as I drove across the county delivering papers, I heard stories from person after person about the impact Ben had in their lives. Everyone talked about what a positive influence he was, on and off the field, and how he always had a positive thing to say and an ear to listen when it was needed. 

Mark Orcutt, at Upper Tygart Mini Mart, said that while he was known on the ball field as “Big Ben” he called him “the gentle giant” because of his calm, kind, and easy-going demeanor. 

Bob Taylor, at Pleasant Valley BP, may have said it best, though. 

“They called him ‘Big Ben’,” Taylor said. “But what made him big wasn’t on the outside. It was what was on the inside.” 

We can hardly think of a better tribute. Can anyone ask for more than to be remembered fondly, and as a positive influence on those who knew them? 

Jeremy D Wells can be reached at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Biden inaugural brings back memories of LBJ’s 1965 ceremony

By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times

Watching the Biden Inaugural on television last week was both entertaining and suspenseful but, most of all, it reminded me of the presidential inauguration I attended in January of 1965.

As a young reporter working for the Ashland Independent, I realized that the average American knew very little about the pomp and pageantry of our quadrennial ceremony to peacefully transfer power in the world’s oldest democracy.

I convinced my editor that I should go to Washington as an average citizen without press credentials and then write a first-person article about the experience. No one on the staff had ever been to that event.

Management agreed to pay for my meals and lodging but no hotel rooms were available. In addition, I wasn’t sure my old car could make it to Washington and back. 

It appeared my great idea was in trouble until I spotted a press release about the “LBJ Express” coming through Ashland en route to Washington as an excursion train paid for by the Kentucky Democratic Party. 

Attached to the press release was a complimentary ticket for a round-trip seat on the train. It would be an “up-and-back” journey with the train heading back to Kentucky a few hours after the swearing-in ceremony and the parade. 

That timetable also solved my housing problem because there would be no overnight stay in Washington. I could sleep on the train on the return trip after enjoying the food and drink provided for all of the happy Democrats aboard the “LBJ Special”.

I had some funny situations in what turned out to be an exhilarating and exhausting experience. I slept for about 20 hours after returning, due mainly to the food and drink I enjoyed in the hospitality (dining) cars going up and coming back. It took me a couple of days to write my article. My editor liked it so much he put it on the front page. 

LBJ’s inaugural happened only 14 months after President Kennedy’s assassination. Security was heavy with sharpshooters on every rooftop. As the parade started, I was standing on the curb behind a rope on Pennsylvania Avenue where the motorcade would turn on its way to the White House.

I told a man standing beside me that I intended to duck under the rope and run into the street to get a close-up photo of President Johnson as his limousine turned the corner.

He quietly spoke against my plan, saying I would be shot dead by at least two rooftop snipers and that my fourth grade teacher would be on network television news that night saying she always knew I was a bad kid. 

I’m forever grateful for that good advice.

Keith Kappes can be reached at keithkappes@gmail.com

AS WE SEE IT: COVID care continues

Carter County’s COVID numbers on Monday were sitting at 1,735 positive cases for the county. Of those 1,498 had been released. Another 202 were isolating at their residence. Seven had been hospitalized. Two were in a nursing home. 

The county had 26 deaths of people who tested positive for COVID. 

For a county with a population of just under 27,000 that’s pretty significant. It means just under six and a half percent of the county has had COVID, though that number is probably higher since there are undoubtedly folks who became sick with a mild case of the virus and never got tested. 

The confirmed COVID deaths are a smaller number. A tenth of a percent. It isn’t a big number when you’re just doing the math. But for the families who have lost loved ones to the disease, the impact is incalculable. 

And with more than six percent of the population having had the virus at some point, it means your chances of encountering someone who has been infected – 6 out of every 100 people you come across – is fairly high. If you leave your house at all, chances are likely that at some point you’ve undoubtedly been in close contact with someone who had or has had the virus. 

The health department says with the rate of infection, Carter County is in the “red zone” for the past week.

Despite these numbers, which, granted, don’t tell you a lot about the real impact on real people and the real risks of an infection, you can still regularly see people out and about in our communities without masks or face shields. In the gas station, the dollar stores, at the grocery – even though they all have signs up saying masks are required – folks come and go without bothering to put on a mask. Even when masks are offered for free at the door, folks will come in without putting one on. 

This puts the burden on the employees to try to enforce the notices, and potentially get into an argument with a customer. This is unfair to them for various reasons.

None of us like wearing masks. They are uncomfortable. If you wear glasses they fog them up. For those who are hard of hearing – especially if they read lips – it makes it hard to understand folks. And it’s one more thing to have to remember before you head out to the store or the pharmacy or to pay bills. 

We all want a return to normal.

But the longer we all refuse to wear masks, the longer it is going to take to return to normal. 

The county is distributing vaccines as quickly as they can, but they only receive so many vials of vaccine each week. They will receive a big shipment of vaccines for teachers and other school employees soon, but that still leaves thousands of people to get the vaccine. Trying to vaccinate tens of thousands of people 100 doses at a time isn’t a quick process, no matter how you try to count it. 

We know masks aren’t a full proof way to avoid the virus. But if everyone wears one, the spread will be reduced simply because the droplets of saliva from talking and coughing and sneezing will be more contained. 

Remember you don’t necessarily wear the mask to keep from getting the virus. You wear the mask so that, if you have the virus and don’t know it, you don’t give it to others. 

So, we implore you, listen to the advice of the health department. Listen to the advice of our judge executive. Help us get back to normal and wear your masks. 

We’re tired of talking about this too. We want to write editorials about other things. We want the focus of our fiscal court stories to be on road repairs. We want the EMS stories to be about something other than how COVID is leading to out of control overtime costs. 

We want the county to get back to normal. And we don’t want any more families to have to worry about the costs that 26 of our families have already had to pay. 

But we can’t do it if everyone doesn’t do their part, put on their masks, and help the county slow the spread while we wait for more vaccines to be manufactured and distributed. 

So please, wear your mask. It’s a very simple thing you can do, if not for yourself, for the other people in your community. So that no other family has to go through the tragedy too many have already had to endure. 

Uncle Jack Fultz’s Memories of Carter County: Flying and the changing English language

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

Last week we talked about the “Flying Fultzes” and wondered if the term “flying trip” meant what it seemed to mean. If it did then it certainly didn’t match the history books, which show the first powered flight in Kentucky didn’t take place until 1908, when Olive Hill’s Matthew Sellers flew his quadplane for the first time. Turns out the term flying shouldn’t have been taken literally. 

While Carter County does deserve recognition for the pioneering aviation work done by Sellers – he not only made the first powered flight in Kentucky but designed the world’s first retractable landing gear – the Fultzes won’t be added to that list anytime soon. What we found in those pages of the old Olive Hill Times weren’t relics of unknown aviation pioneers, they were relics of a change in the English language! 

Local author and history buff Neal Salyers reached out to us to explain that “flying trip” in that day and age meant something completely different, more akin to what we would call a “day trip” today. 

“The best way to describe the terminology is if you use the word ‘dashing’ instead of the word ‘flying,’” Salyers explained. 

It was a quick trip made someplace, for a specific purpose, but wasn’t an extended or overnight trip. So, despite our fantasies of gliders or airplanes zipping over the Carter County skies of the early 20th century, that wasn’t the case at all. 

It also isn’t the only instance of obsolete or changing language found in the pages of the Olive Hill Times or its successor papers the Progressive and the Carter County Herald. 

For instance, when “Walden Fultz drove a drummer to several country stores,” (Olive Hill Times, 4-30-1906) he wasn’t driving a musician around. A drummer in that time was a term used for a traveling salesman. It could also be used to describe the type of wagon used by those traveling salesmen. 

The February 12, 1914 edition of the Progressive uses the term “idiot” in a different way than we use the term today. While it’s a common enough, if very impolite, insult for someone who doesn’t comprehend something today, it once had a specific legal connotation. In 1914 an “idiot” would be someone who, in modern terms, suffered an extreme cognitive disability that rendered them incapable of caring for themselves. 

Of course, the papers of that time were much more casual in their language too. Just look at items like the brief piece in the Herald from December of 1914 admonishing those who borrowed their neighbor’s papers to go ahead and subscribe. 

Four years later the Herald was still at it, being much more casual with calling out “a certain business man (sic)” for his insults to the paper as well as those who did printing business outside of town instead of patronizing local businesses. While the Carter County Times has ran editorials calling for the support of locally owned businesses as well, we haven’t had the audacity to be quite as blunt as the Herald was in their column. Or, maybe, it just seems blunt by today’s standards. Regardless, it’s interesting to see how language and acceptable standards have changed over the last century. 

Also of note is that, while the 1908 Seller’s flight was surely newsworthy, and likely covered by the paper of the time, Uncle Jack apparently did not include a clipping of it in his scrapbooks. We can’t say why, but it’s interesting in its omission. 

Editor’s Note: This is the 28th in a series of articles drawn from the historical newspaper clippings and documents in the scrapbooks of Jack Fultz. We thank Sally James of Sally’s Flowers in Olive Hill for sharing her uncle’s collected clippings with us and the community. – Jeremy D. Wells, editor, Carter County Times

Upward Bound program seeking summer instructors

The Upward Bound Programs at Morehead State University are seeking applications for Morning Core, Afternoon Elective, & Evening instructors for its Summer Academy. 

Morning Core instructors will teach English, math or science to area high school students within a 17-county region of the MSU campus. Class size ranges from 25 – 30 students. 

Afternoon Elective instructors will teach elective classes to area high school students within a 17 county region of the MSU campus. Class size ranges from 10 – 20 students. 

Evening instructors will teach Research Night events on Tuesdays from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm to area high school students within a 17 county region of the MSU campus. Class size ranges from 10 – 20 students. All curriculum for evening instructors will be provided.

Primary responsibility is instruction in the assigned discipline(s). Additional duties include teaching and mentoring students; developing a syllabus for each course and executing approved lesson plans, and completion of other paperwork by assigned deadlines. 

Morning Core instructors are responsible to teach approximately four hours per day (Monday through Friday) for four-weeks with additional mandatory training prior to the Summer Academy. The salary for instructors varies, and can be found on the FAQ page at jobs.moreheadub.org. 

Afternoon Elective instructors are expected to teach approximately one to three hours per day (Monday through Thursday) – it will depend on the number of electives they teach – for four weeks with additional mandatory training prior to the Summer Academy. The salary for instructors varies, and can be found at jobs.moreheadub.org.

Summer Academy dates for instructors are June 7 to July 2. A mandatory training will be held on April 13. 

Applicants must hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree; must be organized as well as possess good oral and written communication skills; must be able to meet deadlines; must have a strong knowledge base in the subject they are teaching and the ability to present that knowledge to high school students in a hands-on learning environment. Teaching experience and/or experience working with teenagers is preferred but not required. 

Applications must be submitted online at jobs.moreheadub.org.

The deadline for applications is March 12.

Additional information is available by contacting Ashley Cooper at (606) 783-9301.

Livestock and Grain Market Report: 1/23/21

Extension Notes: Online learning opportunities abound

By: Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Agent

The Cooperative Extension Service is continuing to provide numerous opportunities for farmers, gardeners, and homeowners to learn new knowledge and skills. The offerings may not be the traditional field days, meetings, and events that we are used to, but now you can watch the virtual offerings for free from the comfort of your couch. You’ll just need a computer, smartphone, or tablet with an internet connection. 

The District 1 counties, which includes Carter County, will be hosting two series of zoom meetings – Master Haymaker and the Unexpected Pleasures of Gardening. The Master Haymaker program will occur on Monday evenings from 6:00-8:00 from February 1 – March 15. Topics will include Weed Control for Forages, How to Make High Quality Hay, Warm & Cool Season Forages, Soil & Soil Fertility, Marketing High Quality Hay, Machinery for Hay Production, and Baleage Production. The Gardening series will occur on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:00 from February 25 – March 11. The topics will include Conventional Home Gardening, Production of Small Fruit in the Home Landscape, and Annual & Perennial Flowers for the Home Landscape. Carter County participants of the Gardening Series will receive free seeds. 

Free seeds are also available to those who watch the Ready, Set, Grow: The Seed Series videos on the Carter County Agriculture Extension Service Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CCESAG) on Tuesdays at noon in March. Topics will include herbs, sunflowers, hummingbirds, catnip, and watermelons. 

Additional state wide online webinars include a Backyard Poultry Series (second and fourth Thursdays in February & March at 7:00 PM), From the Woods Today (Wednesdays at 11:00 AM), Horticulture Webinars (Wednesdays at 12:30 PM), and the Beef Webinars (first and third Tuesday at 8:00 PM). 

Contact the Extension Office at 474-6686 to register or receive the links for any of these webinars. Like us on Facebook to find out about more upcoming virtual events and view past videos. For more information, contact the Carter County office of the UK Cooperative Extension Service. 

Late to the Game(s): Up, up, down, down…

Reflecting on the impact of Konami and their code

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

If you played games in the 80s, or if you spent any time really geeking out about gaming at all, you’re probably familiar with the Konami code. The code – up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start (or Select) – is practically shorthand for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) generation of video game consoles that ushered in gaming as we know it today. The code, and variations on it, has been used as a “cheat” in multiple games since it first showed up in Konami games on the NES. 

I first used the Konami code on Contra, where it granted you 30 lives right at the start of the game. With that cheat in hand my cousin and I fought our way through level after level of human enemies, tanks, and aliens to beat the game. Without the cheat (I honestly needed it worse than my cousin did) we’d have never been able to progress all the way through the game. With it, even less talented gamers like me could feel invincible. 

Though I first used it on Contra, the code actually originated with a port of the arcade shooter Gradius. The developer working on the port found it too difficult to play the game during testing without all of the power-ups so he inserted the code as a pause screen option, choosing a series of inputs that would have been impossible to randomly achieve, that gave him all of the bells and whistles. 

He planned to remove the cheat before the game was shipped, but didn’t do so. Worried that removing it at the last minute could lead to game-breaking bugs, they decided to leave it in. The rest, as they say, is history. 

Versions of the code have been in various Gradius games, as well as the Contra, Castlevania, Silent Hill, and Metal Gear series, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games, and other Konami produced games. It’s become so iconic it’s also been used elsewhere by other game and tech companies. 

So, you can understand the dismay of gamers when earlier this month it was announced that Konami – known in the west for video games but a multi faceted company in Asia with properties ranging from anime to trading cards to pachinko and even fitness – was shutting down its video gaming divisions. Gamers were shocked and dismayed. Some of Konami’s properties, like Castlevania and Metal Gear, have still been producing games in their series regularly over the years – at least until the last generation – and still have huge followings. 

Thankfully, though, it turns out the claims of gaming division closures were just rumors. While the company is going through some reorganization and restructuring, which included the closure and merger of three existing gaming divisions, the company has assured fans that the statement released to investors does not mean that the company is closing their video game division. 

While we haven’t seen any of those iconic Metal Gear, Castlevania, Contra or Silent Hill games so beloved by fans of the company since the PS3/Xbox 360 era, with Konami focusing mostly on Pro Evolution Soccer and Yuh-Gi-Oh over the past generation, the possible return of those franchises in the PS5/Xbox Series X era – and the well known cheat code with them – isn’t off the table after all. 

That’s something we can all “up-up-down-down-left-right-left-right-B-A” cheer about. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Board of Adjustment grants variances: Commercial and residential projects approved, with stipulations

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 The Grayson Board of Adjustment met on Monday night to hear requests for variances on three different proposed projects – one residential, one commercial, and one related to a county E911 project. 

The first was a residential building project at a property along U.S. 60 within city limits. The owner of that property, Brenda Sexton, wishes to build a two car garage on the site. But, because of the layout of the lot, the only way to adhere to the 30 foot setback requirement would be to dig into the hillside and put in a retaining wall. This would add significantly to the cost of the improvement. Because of this the owner was asking for a variance to the 30 foot setback, and asking that she be allowed a 15 foot setback instead. 

Mindy Woods-Click, with the Planning and Zoning Board, noted at the beginning of the meeting that one of the reasons for allowing variances was due to lot layout or dimensions impeding the ability to adhere strictly to the zoning requirements. 

Grayson code enforcement officer Duane Suttles told the board that he had spoken to neighbors, who had no issues with granting the variance, and that it would still place the front of the garage outside of the 55 foot right-of-way required from the center of U.S. 60. 

The second request heard by the Board of Adjustment was from E911 director Joseph Lambert. Lambert explained that he would like to have a new entryway built onto the E911 center. He said it would be necessary before the E911 office could receive a National Crime Information Computer (NCIC). This computer, he explained, could provide the E911 office with information on potential criminals that they currently have to call state police to receive, and could help local law enforcement act more quickly and decisively if they were in contact with a potentially dangerous individual. 

But, he said, because of the sensitive information that can be accessed through the computer system the E911 center needs to install an extra layer of security in the form of an extra locked door between the entry to the building and the interior offices where the computer will be located. Until they have this extra layer of security, they will not be granted the NCIC system. 

He said the extra layer of security would also help keep E911 personnel safe in the event someone attempted to force their way into the center. This was an issue the center had to deal with recently. While the individual was unsuccessful at getting through the exterior doors, the extra layer of security provided by an extra locked door would add to the peace of mind for E911 employees. 

Lambert said there was “no room” to add another door inside the center, explaining this was why the service wanted to add an extension to the entryway. 

Suttles said the only potential issues he could see with the project would be the possible location of sewage, water, or gas lines under the area where the entryway would be built. If there were any of those infrastructure features under the area, he said, future repairs might require the demolition of the new entryway. He said he would reach out to utilities departments to make sure this would not be an issue. 

He added that while the E911 office was technically in the central business district, which allows building right up to the right-of-way without need of a variance, because the E911 office also abuts a residential area it is bound by the stricter residential rules unless the variance is granted. 

The final request came from JMK Electric. The company, which is also located in a residential zoned area, currently has two trailers that are being used for storage. These trailers, however, are in a state of disrepair. Because of this they aren’t functional as storage. Though they have items currently stored in them, the company doesn’t allow employees to go into the trailers to retrieve the materials because of potential safety issues related to decaying floors. The trailers are also not aesthetically pleasing in their current state. 

JMK wishes to replace these two trailers with a storage building that would be more functional and would be more aesthetically pleasing. While the company is fairly sure they would be within their rights to replace the trailers without requesting a variance, they wanted to approach the board to make sure they were following all rules. 

After hearing from each of the properties seeking variance, the board entered regular session to discuss each property and vote on the variances. 

They moved the grant the Sexton variance as requested. In the other two cases they moved to grant the requests with stipulations. 

The E911 variance was granted contingent on the approval of utilities and confirmation that the new entryway would not impact access to utility lines.

In the JMK request the board agreed that the request would definitely create an aesthetic improvement at the property, and noted that – though it was in a residential area – they didn’t foresee a change in usage anytime soon. While they initially discussed tabling the discussion and asking the representative back, because the property is currently a non-conforming usage in a residential zoned area. While they could have looked at changing the zoning, they decided they didn’t want to hold up any improvements. 

Woods-Click said while the planning and zoning commission could look at changing the zoning – which would allow the change even if it meant a possible increase in traffic if the storage space also became office space at some point in the future – she added she felt it would “seem a shame not to allow them to improve” the property for their own benefit as well as that of their neighbors. 

The board moved to offer granting the variance if they moved the front of the proposed building back 30 feet from the property line, as required in a residential area, rather than the current 20 feet of the trailers. 

Suttles, as code enforcement officers, was tasked with informing each of the requesters of the boards decisions. He said he would notify Sexton and JMK of the board’s decisions right away, and would inform Lambert and E911 as soon as the location of any possible gas, water or sewage lines were verified. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Fiscal court discusses COVID vaccines: Approves claims and report

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 Carter County fiscal court met in special session on Monday to approve claims and to accept the sheriff’s quarterly report. After court adjourned, however, judge executive Mike Malone asked the court to briefly remain on their Zoom conference to discuss the state of COVID-19 vaccinations in the county. 

Malone told the magistrates that he didn’t know if they were getting contacts from their constituents, but that he had been receiving contacts from Carter County citizens upset at the slow distribution of COVID vaccines. He wanted the magistrates to know that, if they received any such calls, the Carter County Health Department was administering vaccines as quickly as they could receive them. However, the county was only receiving 100 doses of the vaccine each week. 

“That’s doses, not vials,” Malone clarified, noting that each vial contains multiple doses of the vaccine. 

“Our health department could give 500 in a day, if we could get the vaccine,” Malone told the court. 

He said he had been in contact with state representatives in Frankfort, as well as elected officials in Washington D.C., to see about freeing up more of the vaccine for local use, but all vaccines flow through Frankfort and right now the supply just isn’t available to meet the state’s needs. He said it doesn’t appear to be the fault of anyone in Frankfort, it is just the nature of the limited vaccine supply. 

But, he said, while it appears there is nothing that can be done to increase the availability of the vaccine, other than wait for more doses to be manufactured, he acknowledged that the ongoing pandemic is taking a toll on the community. While part of that toll is economic, he said, as businesses struggled to stay open with a reduced customer base, the cost wasn’t all about money. 

“It’s costing amounts we can’t even calculate, in lives and depression,” Malone said. 

He urged the magistrates to remain sensitive to these issues, and the impact on families, and said his office would continue to pursue all avenues to bring more vaccine doses to the county. 

In other action the court moved to accept the sheriff’s quarterly and moved to approve claims. These included $58,832.16 to the Carter County Sheriff, for salary reimbursement and 363.75 to Taylor Duncan for county inspection services. The court also approved a total of $58,652. 59 in jail claims, for Quality Correctional Health Care of Kentucky, and $21,895.79 from the road department to Hudson Materials for cold patch material. This material is used to make pothole repairs on county maintained roads. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

One more cup of coffee: Goose Bridle raises over $1,000 for local organizations

Will Stevens of Goose Bridle Coffee Roasters is offering fundraising blends for local organizations. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 What if you could help support local organizations, like church camps or scout troops, while doing something you do every day anyway like having your morning cup of coffee? 

That’s what Goose Bridle Coffee’s Will Stevens had in mind when he began doing fundraiser packs for his coffee beans. When Stevens saw that various non-profit groups were having trouble with their fundraising efforts during the COVID-19 crisis and quarantine he started thinking of things he could do to help out. 

What Stevens, whose day job is as a chemistry professor at Kentucky Christian University, does best – other than chemistry – is roast coffee. His coffee already has a loyal following among local connoisseurs who appreciate the quality of the beans he uses and the freshness of the roast. It’s quite possibly the freshest coffee to be found in the region and the only coffee currently being roasted commercially in Carter County. A lot of those folks buy their coffee as whole beans and grind them themselves at home for their preferred brewing method, though he can also grind your coffee for you if you prefer. 

For his fundraiser blend, though, Stevens wanted to appeal to the more casual coffee drinker. The folks who prefer the simplicity of a good, old-fashioned drip coffee maker to fancy pour-overs and French presses. He also wanted to make it simpler for the kids who would be doing the leg work of selling the coffee. Rather than have a variety of different roasts to juggle, and a whole bean option or different styles of grinds to keep organized, he came up with a blend and a roast that he could grind for use in drip coffee makers while still providing customers with the best, freshly roasted coffee available locally. The result is a blend of Guatemalan and Brazilian beans, in a medium-dark roast, that appeals to folks who want simplicity, but good flavor, in their morning cup of coffee. 

So far this fundraiser blend has raised over $1100 for local groups like Dance with Hope Studio, Howell’s Mill Christian Assembly church camp, and the East Carter Family Resource and Youth Service Center. It’s been successful enough that Stevens plans to continue offering the fundraiser roasts, which can be branded however the organization likes. 

“If you want to raise money for your Little League team, for example, we can offer a ‘Home Run Blend’ branding and labeling,” he explained. 

Though so far he’s only been offering the one blend for fundraisers, that could change if an organization wanted to do something different. For the youth groups who’ve been selling the coffee to date, though, the uncomplicated single-roast, single-grind option seems to be working best. The main thing, Stevens said, is using what he has to offer to help others in his community meet their fundraising needs. Right now, he’s happy with how that’s been working. 

For more information on Goose Bridle Coffee, and to contact Stevens for your own fundraiser blend or to try his specialty roasts, you can visit them online at www.goosebridlecoffeeroasters.com. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Taking the shot: Health department giving vaccinations as quickly as they get them

Valerie Nolan with the Carter County emergency ambulance service receives her COVID vaccination. (Submitted photo)

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 So far the Carter County Health Department has given out “about 333 vaccinations,” according to public health director Jeff Barker. 

“We’ve received three shipments of 100 doses per week,” Barker said. 

He noted that “some were a little more” than 100 doses, which is why they were sitting at 333 vaccinations last week. But, he explained, though they can give an extra shot out of a vial if it is a full dose, they aren’t allowed to mix vaccines out of two different vials. So, if they don’t have a full extra shot in a vial, they aren’t able to combine it with the next vial to stretch their supply further. 

This is just one of the rules that is holding the health department right around 100 vaccinations a week, though if they had more supply they could give more shots. 

The first doses administered in the county were given out to nursing homes, Barker told the Times. Those vaccinations came through Walgreen’s, who the state had contracted with to provide the vaccinations. 

“Then we got our first 100, to do non-hospital healthcare workers,” Barker said. 

After receiving those they vaccinated first responders, and have now moved on to vaccinate those 70 and older who want the vaccine. 

“Unfortunately, 100 doses is not much,” Barker said, but the state only has a limited amount of vaccine available, and they have to spread those out over all of Kentucky’s counties and municipalities. 

He said the next big push from the state will be to vaccinate teachers and other public school employees. He said they’ve set aside an allotment for K-12 personnel, which the county should receive soon. 

“They’re sending 600 doses for that,” he said. After the health department has finished administering those vaccines to teachers and others, they will go back to vaccinating the general public, focusing again on those 70 and older until they are all vaccinated and the department is able to move on to younger members of the public. 

He said that the vaccine is supposed to be released to chain pharmacies soon, which could enable more widespread distribution of the vaccine. That could make the vaccine “more readily available” as soon as February, he said, but precise details remain to be seen. 

He said the state is also looking at creating drive-up clinics where people can receive vaccinations, but he hasn’t yet heard of any sites being designated locally. While judge executive Mike Malone is encouraging those in Frankfort to consider a local drive-up vaccination clinic, and the local IKORCC has offered their union hall as a site for a drive-up clinic, Barker said he hasn’t heard any word from the state that they plan to act on that recommendation from Malone. 

If and when that occurs, however, the health department will help support those efforts. 

He said he and other health department directors are “constantly on calls” with state officials in Frankfort. They provide regular updates and changes to plans as they occur. But, he said, the entire process is unprecedented, and prone to constant change. 

“It’s almost like building an airplane while you’re flying,” he said.

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Pet of the Week: 1/27/21

Joe-Joe is a two-year-old male shepherd mix. He’s a quiet, sweet boy that needs a home to call his own. His $75 adoption fee includes rabies vaccination and being neutered. Stop by the Carter County Animal Shelter and meet him or call 475-9771 for more information. 

Shelter hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday by appointment.

William Richard Littleton

1947-2021

Mr. William Richard Littleton, age 73, of Vernon Jones Drive, Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Saturday evening, January 23, 2021, at his residence.

He was born March 22, 1947, in Lewis County, Kentucky, a son of the late William Tom and Lydia Littleton.

William was of the strong Christian faith and enjoyed attending church, spending time with his family, being outdoors and telling stories of days gone by. He always had a kind word and a smile for everyone.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Littleton and Linda Carroll.

William is survived by his loving wife 51 years, Wanda Littleton; two daughters, Pamela Wells (Jeff) of Olive Hill, Kentucky, and Tammy Bumgardner (Jody) of Hillsboro, Kentucky; three grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and five brothers, Avery Littleton and Bobby Littleton, both of Vanceburg, Kentucky, Charles Homer Littleton (Frankie) of Laurel, Indiana, Ralph Littleton and Kenneth Littleton, both of Olive Hill, Kentucky. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss him.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Hansel Butler officiating. Burial will follow in the Stamper Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky.

Friends may visit from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West Highway US 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky 41164.

Avery Littleton, Chris Littleton, Ralph Littleton, Jessie Nolen and Shawn Douglas will serve as pallbearers. Tanner Littleton, Jeff Well and Jody Bumgardner will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.globefc.com.

Janet Knipp Roe

1936-2021

Mrs. Janet Knipp Roe, age 84, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Saturday evening, January 23, 2021, at St. Claire Healthcare Center in Morehead, Kentucky.

She was born May 2, 1936, in Carter County, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Paul and Eva Barker Knipp.

Janet was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ since 1955 and had worked as a seamstress for over 40 years. She enjoyed going to church and spending time with her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 53 years, Roy Frank “Troy” Roe; two daughters, Ruth Ann Smith and Judy Bowling; two brothers, Lowell Knipp and Ralph Knipp; and two sisters, Gaythel Bryant and Ester Huntsman..

Janet is survived by five grandchildren, Robin Yanquas (Rex), Dava Jordan (William), Felicia Bowling, Brett Bowling (Amy) and Jared Bowling; 12 great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Kenny Knipp of Olive Hill, Kentucky and Gary Knipp of Grayson, Kentucky; and one sister, Maxine Roe of Olive Hill, Kentucky. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly mourn her passing.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother John Bradley and Brother John Jordan officiating. Interment will follow in the Kiser Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky.

Friends may visit from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West US Highway 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky 41164.

Tyler Barker, Matthew Bowling, Corey Barker, Evan Jordan, Nathan Bowling and Canan Barker will serve as pallbearers.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, we ask that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.globefc.com.

Rosemary King Erwin

1945-2021

Mrs. Rosemary King Erwin, age 75, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Thursday morning, January 21, 2021, at her residence.

She was born June 30, 1945, in Carter County, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Steve and Sophie Thompson Hamilton King.

Rosemary was a member of the Dry Branch Church of God and she retired from Morehead State University after 20 years of service. She enjoyed working puzzles, watching Judge Judy and her soaps, taking care of her son, and spending time with her grandchildren, especially with her great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two children, Jeffery Erwin and Sandra Dee Erwin Jarrell; five brothers, William Daniel Hamilton, James “Jim” Hamilton, Elmer King, Estill King and Paul King; and four sisters, Nancy Seagraves, Meldie Evans, Verna Hall and Edith Grills.

Rosemary is survived by her husband of 60½ years, Glen Erwin Jr; one son, Steve Erwin of Olive Hill, Kentucky; one son-in-law, Jhan Jarrell of Olive Hill, Kentucky; three grandchildren, Kayla (T.C.) Jordan, Joe Jarrell and Justin Jarrell (Emily); four great grandchildren, Tayler Jordan, Bryson Jordan, Kameron Jordan and Jaxson Jarrell; and one sister, Dora Maxine Hamilton Stevens of Olive Hill, Kentucky; and one brother-in-law, Bobby Seagraves of Olive Hill, Kentucky. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 24, 2021, at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Randy Salyers, Brother Bill Bradley, and Brother Clyde Holbrook officiating. Burial will follow in the Bowen Chapel Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky.

Friends may visit from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, January 24, 2021, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West Highway US 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky 41164.

T.C. Jordan, Justin Jarrell, Jhan Jarrell, Tayler Jordan, Micky Grills and Bill Bradley will serve as pallbearers. Bryson Jordan, Jaxson Jarrell and Kameron Jordan will serve as junior pallbearers. Randy Salyers, Lester Bradley, Ronnie Fisher, Joe Jarrell, and Dexter Bradley will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to St. Claire Hospice in Morehead, Kentucky, for all their love and support during their time of sorrow.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, we ask that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing. 

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.globefc.com.

East open season with win over Greenup: Raiders rally in second half for 57-44 victory

Trevor Cline(10) of East Carter blocks the shot of Greenup County’s Trenton Hannah (44). (Photo by Mason Branham, The Greenup Gazette)
By: Mason Branham
for Carter County Times

GRAYSON – East Carter’s defense in the opening four minutes of the second half totally changed the complexion of the game last Tuesday, January 12, as East opened its season with a 57-44 win over Greenup County.

The Musketeers were leading, 19-16, after a low-scoring first half.

But the East defense quickly changed things around, forcing four Musketeer turnovers with three coming on steals. East limited Greenup County to one point, a free throw by Trenton Hannah, over the opening four and a half minutes of the third quarter.

After a basket by Trevor Cline, Connor Goodman canned a three-pointer bucket to boost East to the lead, 21-19 at the 6:39 mark of the period.

A steal by Blake Hall resulted in a Ethan Miller bucket for East and a Greenup County time out at the 6:22 mark.

When play resumed, Connor Goodman stole the ball and scored. Then Miller added a basket as the East lead grew to 27-19.

Hannah’s free throw stopped the East run, but Evan Goodman drained a three for a 30-20 East advantage. 

After Wireman’s three, the only other points of the period came on a three by the Musketeers’ Boone Gibson with 48 seconds left. That cut the East lead to 32-26.

The Musketeers (1-3) were within seven, 35-28, after two free throws by Gibson with 5:51 to play.

East closed the door on Greenup County with a 12-2 run.

Both teams had a hard time getting shots to fall to start the game.. Three minutes into the contest, the game was scoreless. East led, 12-11, in the second period before the Musketeers scored eight straight points. The Musketeers scoring problems actually began in late the quarter. They led, 19-12, before East scored the final four points to leave Greenup County with a 19-16 lead at the half.

East built the lead to 18 points, 57-39. A late three by Boone Gibson and a basket by Jonah Gibson made the final margin 13.

Greenup County 7 12 7 18-44

East Carter 7 9 16 25-57

Musketeers (44)–B. Gibson 20, Sammons 8, Hewlett 2, Hannah 5, Wireman 5,J. Gibson 46.

East Carter (57)–Miller 15, E. Goodman 5, Cline 8, Hall 2, Tussey 14, C. Goodman 13.

East Carter also picked up a win in their second game of the season, against Morgan County at home, with a score of 59-37.

Contact the writer at masonbjr@yahoo.com

Lady Comets advance to regional championship round: Beat Menifee 57-50 in fast paced final period

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

Friday night’s game between the West Carter Lady Comets and the Menifee Lady Cats was a nail biter at times, despite West Carter’s eventual seven point victory. Menifee tried hard to rally, coming within three points of the Comets early in the third period, and within two points twice in the fourth period, but always coming up just short. 

West Carter ended the first period up by four points, 16-12, and held pretty close in the second period, edging up by another point over Menifee to end the half 30-25. 

The Lady Comets started the third period stretching their five point lead to seven on a pair of foul shots, but a pair of back-to-back goals by Menifee’s Taylor Parks and Morgan Wells brought the score to 32-29 early in the period. A field goal by Kara Jordan widened the gap again, and a foul shot by Menifee’s Kelsie Woodard put the score at 34-30. A three-pointer from Allie Stone and a shot from Beth Middleton put West Carter up by nine for a while, but a three-point shot from Menifee’s Jayce Gevendon made the score 39-33 going into the fourth period. 

That’s when things got interesting. 

A basket each from Wells and Woodard brought Menifee within a goal of West Carter in the fourth period, but the Lady Comets extended their lead by eight points on three-point shots from Millie Henderson and Stone, putting the score at 45-37. 

Parks would score again for Menifee, taking the score to 45-39, but Henderson sank another three-pointer, widening the gap once again 48-39. 

Another rally by Menifee brought them within two points again after three field goals and a foul shot, two of them from Parks, brought the score to 48-46. Henderson broadened the Lady Comets’ lead to five again on another three-pointer, but Menifee’s Woodard brought the Lady Cats within three points of West Carter on a two-point shot, 51-48, then again on another goal after a pair of foul shots by Stone put the Comets at 53. Woodard’s basket bringing the Lady Cats to 50 points, with 31.6 seconds left on the clock, would be Menifee’s last though. 

West Carter broadened their lead to 55-50 on a pair of foul shots by Middleton and to 57-50 on another pair of free throws from Jordan, before running out the rest of the clock. 

Stone was the top scorer for West Carter with 24 points on five two-point field goals, four three-pointers, and a pair of free throws. She had six total rebounds with five defensive and one offensive, and five assists. Henderson had 14 points, with twelve of those points coming from three-point shots and one from a two-point, seven total rebounds – three offensive and four defensive – and one assist. Middleton had 11 points on two field goals, a three-point shot and four free throws, seven offensive rebounds, five defensive rebounds, and an assist. Jordan scored six points on a pair of field goals and a pair of free throws, had two offensive rebounds, three defensive rebounds, and two assists. Kylie Gilliam had two points on a field goal and two rebounds, one defensive and one offensive. Lexie Bond had three defensive rebounds and two assists, Kayleigh Rayburn had a pair of defensive rebounds for the Lady Comets, and Peyton Stegall had a pair of offensive rebounds and an assist. 

Woodard had 24 points for Menifee, Morgan Wells six, Shaylee Baker six, Parks eight, Cali Wells three and Gevendon three. 

Coach Faith Conn said she was happy with the performance from her girls. 

“Menifee is a good team. I mean, Woodard is fantastic. Just the way she alters the game herself will make any team play hard,” Conn said. 

She said the team had practiced keeping the ball in motion in the week leading up to the game, something that she thought helped the girls. 

“One thing we have worked on a lot this week was passing the ball, and getting it to where we see an open man, and today I think we did that so much that we did it too much,” she laughed. “So we talked about that a couple of times, and just the intensity of the mind set where we are going to play to win every single game.” 

The West Carter boys team had their last game, against Rowan County, canceled per COVID-19 restrictions. Their next home game was scheduled for Tuesday night, after press time for this paper, against Raceland. The Lady Comets were also scheduled to meet Raceland that night, with both games regional championships. 

We will share results of those games online as information is available and in next week’s paper. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

  • Menifee’s Jayce Gevendon, #5, guards West Carter’s Allie Stone, #22. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
  • Millie Henderson, #30, guards for Allie Stone, #22, as the Lady Comets’ take advantage of an opening. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
  • Menifee’s Cali Wells, #10, faces off against the Lady Comets’ Lexie Bond, #5. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

ACTC announces Dean’s List

ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland Community and Technical College has named 241 students to the dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester. To be eligible for the dean’s list, a student must complete at least 12 semester credits (of 100 level courses or above) or more for the semester and earn at least a 3.5 GPA for the semester. The students are listed below by state, county and city of residence.

The Carter County students are listed below.

GRAYSON: Larisa Kay Blankenship, Marissa Bloemer, Tiffany J. Cartwright, Ashlei Michelle Felty, Skylar Brianne Felty, Kenneth Kole Fleming, Braden Kenneth Hicks, Stephen M. Horton, Chasity Elizabeth Hutchinson, Katelyn Marie Johnson, Jacob Hunter Leadingham, Cody Wayne McDavid, Stephanie Renee Pope and Nicholas Christian Strong

HITCHINS: Paul Banan Parker

OLIVE HILL: Angela M. Black, John Karl Wyatt Blevins, Brea Loraine Colley, Bruce Allen Conley II, Dalton Wayne Cundiff, Dawn Dean, Rodney Scott Evans, Charles Haskett, Quenna Kelsey, Sarah L. Lewis, Brooxie Lucas, Brittany L. Middleton, Christopher Harvey Middleton, Keasha Raeann Northern, Samuel Carl Rayburn, Hayden Smedley, Brody Kyle Sparks, Randy Allen Stevens and Caleb Wyatt Sturgill

RUSH: Heather Lorraine Davis, Shelby Morgan Grubb, Jazmen Marie Messmer, Jonathan Hamrick and Jarett Thomas

ACTC names 188 to President’s list

ASHLAND – Ashland Community and Technical College has named 188 students to the President’s List for the fall 2020 semester. To be eligible for the president’s list, a student must earn a perfect 4.0 grade point average and successfully complete at least 12 KCTCS semester credits of course work numbered 100 or above (excluding any courses considered developmental and without withdrawing from a course)

The Carter County students are listed below.

GRAYSON: Derrick Michael Bradley, Zane Alden Burnett, Corissa Rae Callihan, Amy J. Conn, Rachel Lacy Cummings, Lillie Hannah Gallion, Patricia Faye Hall, Courtney Paige Johnston, Ryan Dikota Jones, Montana Kennedy, Carra-Janae Grace Layne, Megan Lynne Magruder, Alysha Nycole Mcwhorter, Mackenzie Kathryn Moore, Caitlin Beth Mulkey, Bailey Larae Newman, Kathryn Pennington, Jacob Wayne Rhoden, Aubrey Laurel Rice, Shane Dustin Salley, Rachel Violet Sidell, Scott Stanisky, Charles Richard Thomas, Mason Alexander Tomaselli, Ashley Danielle Walters and Garry L. Yates 

HITCHINS: Cody Logan

OLIVE HILL: Kelly Nicole Bond, William James Butler, Chayton Jarod Cooley, Dawson M. Craig, Milton Edward Henderson, David Randall Jessie, Angela Sara Jones, Caleb Dalton Kilgore, Hannah Grace Kiser, Cameron Blake Lewis, Joshua Lee Roark and Peter Schueler

RUSH: Patricia Binion, Nancy Leanna Godbey and Emily Elaine Wilburn

WILLARD: Hailey Nicole Sexton

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